A day trip can be as relaxing, adventurous, or thrilling as you allow it to be. Appropriately planning for a day trip helps ensure that the trip gives you all the enjoyment and satisfaction that you deserve. We have done numerous day trips including waterfall chasing, hiking, pilgrimage site visits, or hopping from one popular tourist spot to another. So, take it from us, the last thing you want after making plans for a day trip is to forget something or go over-packed.
One of the top questions asked in our Instagram Q&A is, What do we usually carry in our backpacks for day trips?
Here’s a quick checklist of the items that you should pack including certain optional gear on all-day trips to keep things light and simple.
Things To Take For A Day Trip
Table of Contents
Mandatory Gears To Pack
1. First Aid Kit
Irrespective of the terrain we had chosen for a day trip, we always carried a mask and sanitizer for safety, a few tablets that are very helpful during travel, glucose, and bandaid strips.
First Aid kits come in handy for you and to aid anyone in need. We have never set foot on any trip without these items in our backpacks. If we happen to travel for more days, we carry our customized travel first aid kit.
2. Safety Kit
By taking precautions, remaining alert, and taking stock of the environment at all times, you can prevent mishaps. Self-defense equipment is a must-have for your safety, especially if you are a woman.
We always carry pepper spray, kept in an easily accessible pouch of our backpack. There are plenty of other options like a whistle, or knife. So choose any reliable safety equipment that is comfortable for you. Do ensure that you practice dry runs with it, to gain confidence and practice in using them.
Note: Do ensure that you check if the safety product you have chosen is legal in your country. For instance, pepper spray is illegal in most of Europe but legal in India.
3. Room Keys
In our experience, after locking our door and safe, we put our keys inside our carry-on bag. Keep them somewhere safe, and reliable to avoid complications after returning.
4. Sun & Rain Protection Gears
The ultimate hack to travel-packing is to pack light and prioritize your essentials. Depending on the weather, we take either of the below-mentioned items:
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, arm sleeve
- Raincoat, rain cover for a backpack, waterproof phone cover, waterproof cover to separate the wet from the dry. Here’s a list of what we carry for monsoon hikes.
Jackets on all days – to beat cold during the early morning ride, and keep yourself warm during the cold rains. As the day goes by, you can easily wrap them on the waist. This tactic also saves space in our backpacks.
5. Mobile, Travel Adapter & Charging Cord
As obvious as it is that everyone carries a mobile, you would still be surprised by the number of times we had to travel back to collect it from the charging port. We update our whereabouts to our beloved friends and families and use them to navigate and capture beautiful moments. One other important thing is to have all of your important documents like your driver’s license, and vaccination certificates downloaded and saved offline.
A travel adapter ensures that you can plug in anywhere regardless of the power outlet options.
Note: If you don’t have a power bank, carry a mobile charger just in case so you can charge at a restaurant or any place.
6. Cash & Valid ID Card
Behind our mobile, we keep a few bucks and an ID card which is very useful if we need to purchase entry tickets or rent a bike. Ever since our incident with monkey attacks, we dropped the idea of carrying wallets. Moreover, it adds weight and we cannot afford to lose the valuables it holds.
We also do not carry credit or debit cards as most vendors accept cash or UPI payments.
7. Reusable Water Bottle
You might not find water on your journey or it might be contaminated. A primary requisite to have is a reusable water bottle, preferably one that is not repurposed in plastic mineral water bottles.
Carrying a reusable water bottle also makes you a responsible traveler. We usually carry a 1 L reusable water bottle each for all our day trips.
8. Energy Bars or Dry Fruits
Especially if you are taking the kids along, you should have some snacks packed for your trip. Rather than eating fast foods or snacks that don’t add energy, but certainly unnecessary calories. Bring energy bars and dry fruits. They are our go-to options when it comes to packing eatables for our trips. This also reduces plastic waste generated from snack packages, making you a conscious traveler.
Note: Please do not drop any waste wherever you go. Use designated trashcans or bring the waste back home and dispose of it in the trashbin.
9. Comfortable Footwear
If your shoe is too old and not in good condition or where the shoe sole is about to come off, do not wear it thinking you’ll adjust (just for this time). Nope! Wear proper shoes with good grip and ankle support. Comfortable footwear is an absolute necessity for your travels. If the shoes are waterproof, it is an added advantage.
We are using Decathlon’s Quechua MT-100 & MH-100 and are happy with the investment.
10. A Backpack
A small 15-liter backpack can hold all of the items mentioned on this list including the 1L water bottle. Before packing, do remember that you will be holding the backpack for the entire day. So, pack light.
Optional Gears To Pack
This list of items is optional when you’re planning a day trip during daylight hours. However, the following list can be considered essential if your trip is going to be longer than a day.
1. Power Bank
If our mobile phones are fully charged, we do not carry power banks. If not, we take them in our backpacks.
2. Headlamp
Hiking in low-lit times and places can be a challenge and the availability of the right equipment for such times plays a crucial role. Headlamps come in handy while going for sunrise and sunset hikes.
3. Trekking Poles
We don’t own one yet but it is a good practice to use trekking poles while on a hike. You can also take a strong wooden stick and use it for balance. But you must understand that there is never any substitute or alternative for types of equipment that are designed for very specific purposes, like trekking poles. They provide hikers with an irreplaceable advantage while crossing streams and hiking uphill.
4. Prescription Spectacles & Its Safety Case
We have eyesight issues. So we always have our spectacles and their safety case. If you have a similar problem, don’t forget to take your and their case with you.
5. Camera Accessories
We are using the iPhone currently for taking pictures as well as short videos. But if you have a camera or GoPro, you can carry it along with other accessories like a tripod, mic, extra batteries, etc.
6. Hair Band & Safety Pins
We don’t use clutches or hairpins on our hair. We always carry a hair band for the sheer comfort of keeping the hair away from our faces most simply and effectively possible. This is an optional thing to carry based on your needs.
Safety pins come in handy should the garments you are wearing tear up in a manageable manner.
7. Headphones
We usually skip taking headphones for day trips as we love to spend time outdoors listening to the ambient environment. It is your choice to take one.
This list should aid you in wrapping your head around taking only essentials that might be useful or necessary for a day trip. We hope this packing list helps you stay organized while traveling, and we’d love to hear your feedback!
Feel free to add your own items in the comments below.
